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Employer Liability Issues State Labor Laws Washington

Fisher Phillips

Washington State Workplace Law Roundup: Nearly 20 New Laws Taking Effect Within the Next Year – Starting Now

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Washington lawmakers were busy this year, and a wave of new laws will have a major impact on the workplace. Employers must be aware of significant workplace laws taking effect within the next year, including 11 new laws that...more

Perkins Coie

2025 Washington Legislative Employment Law Update

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With the close of the 2025 Washington state legislative session, it is time to review the new employment laws and amendments that will affect businesses operating in Washington. Many of these changes take effect on July 27,...more

Fox Rothschild LLP

Washington State Sees Surge in Wage-and-Hour Class Actions

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Washington employers are experiencing a significant rise in wage-and-hour class action lawsuits, a trend that has accelerated with the recent entry of several California-based law firms into the state. These firms,...more

Husch Blackwell LLP

Washington Establishes New Standard for Deliberate Injury Exception in Latent Disease Cases

Husch Blackwell LLP on

In May 2025, the Supreme Court of Washington overruled previous precedent regarding the deliberate intent to injure exception related to workers’ compensation immunity for employers, finding that an employee may sue its...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

10 New Bills Go Into Effect in July for Washington State Employers

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In its 2025 regular session, the Washington State Legislature passed 10 bills impacting employers that will come into effect this year. These legal changes affect compliance obligations, employee benefits, and protections...more

Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt PC

Washington Employment Law Updates

A series of employment-related bills have become law and will go into effect in the coming months and years. These new bills contain some significant changes that will likely affect most Washington employers. Understanding...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Warning from the Lighthouse: Washington Supreme Court Elevates Informal Wage Directives

Seyfarth Shaw LLP on

In the ever-evolving landscape of employment law, Washington employers find themselves at the crossroads of compliance and litigation, especially when it comes to handling wage complaints. The recent Washington State Supreme...more

Ballard Spahr LLP

No Small Thing: Mini-Warn Act Comes to Washington State

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Washington is the latest state to enact a “mini-WARN” Act that will require employers with 50 or more full-time employees to provide at least 60 days’ notice to the state as well as any union or employees affected by a...more

Ballard Spahr LLP

Don’t Get Caught Off Guard: Top 10 Employment Law Changes in Washington State

Ballard Spahr LLP on

Employers operating in Washington State must take steps quickly to comply with a slew of new labor and employment laws passed by the Washington State Legislature during the recent session. These new laws significantly expand...more

Fenwick & West LLP

New Washington Mini-WARN Act for Mass Layoffs and Business Site Closures

Fenwick & West LLP on

Washington is the latest state to enact a Mini-Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) law. Effective July 27, 2025, the Securing Timely Notification and Benefits for Laid-Off Employees Act (SB 5525) imposes...more

Perkins Coie

Washington State Passes Law Broadening Pregnancy-Related Accommodations

Perkins Coie on

Key Takeaways - - A new law in Washington requires all employers, regardless of their size, to have pregnancy and postpartum accommodations in place for their employees by 2027. - The required accommodations include paid...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

You’ve Been WARNed: Washington Enacts a mini-WARN Law

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The new law applies to employers with 50+ employees (excluding part-time workers) and mirrors many federal WARN Act provisions, with some notable distinctions....more

Fisher Phillips

Washington Lawmakers Cut Employers a Break for Job Posting Noncompliance: 7 Things You Should Do

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Washington employers will soon get some relief from the state’s strict job posting requirements after lawmakers unanimously passed a law to mitigate some of the more onerous parts of the key state statute. Starting July 27,...more

Morgan Lewis

Washington State Clarifies Its Pay Transparency Law

Morgan Lewis on

The Equal Pay and Opportunity Act requires employers hiring in Washington state to publish in job postings a wage scale or salary range and a general description of benefits to be offered to hired applicants. The Washington...more

Fox Rothschild LLP

Washington State May Ease Pay Transparency Rules

Fox Rothschild LLP on

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson is considering a bill that would amend the state’s wage disclosure requirements in the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (EPOA) and implement major changes regarding potential liability for...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Washington’s Fair Chance Act: New Amendments Transform Employer Background Check Policies

Seyfarth Shaw LLP on

In 2018, Washington enacted a Fair Chance Act, requiring covered employers to wait until after considering an applicant to be “otherwise qualified” for the position at issue to inquire about or consider criminal history when...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Washington Amends Employee Personnel File Access Laws

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The Washington Legislature has passed a new law affecting employers’ obligations related to employee personnel files.  The new law amends RCW 49.12.240 and 49.12.250 in four important ways...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Waiver Goodbye – Continued FMCSA Preemption Of Meal And Rest Periods For California and Washington Drivers

Seyfarth Shaw LLP on

In 2023, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”) under the Biden administration started accepting public comments about the many petitions for waiver that key stakeholders, including the California Attorney...more

Perkins Coie

Washington Supreme Court Denies Appeal of Meal Period Penalty Case

Perkins Coie on

In October 2024 we wrote about the Washington State Court of Appeals’ opinion in Androckitis v. Virginia Mason Medical Center, which held that the remedy for meal period violations includes three components: (1) payment of...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

The Fate of Hundreds Of EPOA Class Actions Await The Washington Supreme Court’s Decision in Branson v. Washington

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The Washington Supreme Court recently entertained oral arguments in Branson v. Washington Fine Wines on the following certified question from the W.D. Washington regarding the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (“EPOA”)...more

Fisher Phillips

Washington Supreme Court Significantly Limits Moonlighting Restrictions for Low Wage Employees: Your 4-Step Plan for Compliance

Fisher Phillips on

In a first-of-its-kind decision, the Washington Supreme Court took aim at the ability of employers to prevent low wage employees in the state from “moonlighting” or otherwise supplementing their income during their...more

Stoel Rives LLP

Key Changes for Oregon, Washington, and California Employers in 2025

Stoel Rives LLP on

As 2024 wraps up and we look forward to 2025, below is a summary of upcoming changes in employment law that may impact employers in Oregon, Washington, and California. Many of the following updates go into effect on January...more

Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP

Washington Employers Face Minimum Wage and Salary Threshold Increases

Effective January 1, 2025, Washington’s state minimum wage will increase to $16.66 per hour, a 2.35% increase over 2024. In addition to complying with the state’s minimum wage requirements, Washington employers also need to...more

Perkins Coie

Coming Soon: Judicial and Agency Interpretations of Washington's Pay Disclosure Law

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Washington's Equal Pay and Opportunity Act (EPOA) is a hot topic in Washington state, with well over 100 class-action lawsuits filed under the law in the past 18 months. In short, the EPOA requires employers to disclose...more

Perkins Coie

Washington Announces New Minimum Wages for 2025

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The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries announced that Washington’s minimum wage, which is tied to inflation, will increase from $16.28 to $16.66 starting in 2025.  Many local jurisdictions have higher minimum...more

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